A Step Closer to Curing Sight Loss from AMD

23 Mar A Step Closer to Curing Sight Loss from AMD

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of sight loss in older adults. AMD involves damage to the eye’s macula, the most sensitive part of the retina, and causes a loss of central vision that makes it difficult to accomplish everyday tasks. Currently, there is no accepted cure for AMD, and patients who lose their vision to it must rely on rehabilitation and therapy to help cope with their condition. However, researchers believe we may have come a step closer to curing sight loss caused by AMD thanks to promising results from a study involving bioengineered, stem cell-derived ocular cells.

The Groundbreaking Study

In a first-of-its-kind clinical study published in the journal, Nature Biotechnology, researchers from UC Santa Barbara were able to safely and effectively engineer patches of retinal pigment epithelium cells, which were derived from embryonic stem cells. They implanted the patches onto the retinas of patients suffering from AMD, replenishing the damaged cells and restoring both patients’ ability to see clearly. The promising results of the study give researchers hope that an equally effective, off-the-shelf version of the treatment can be made available within the next few years.

Dealing with AMD Now

Until engineered retina cells become a household item, you can still effectively deal with AMD now with your optometrist’s help. If you notice that your vision is increasingly blurry or you’ve been diagnosed with AMD, then certain eye therapies, medications, and nutritional supplements may help slow the progression of the disease. Before that happens, though, you can increase your chances of preventing AMD by exercising regularly, eating plenty of leafy vegetables, and avoiding smoking and smokeless tobacco products,

Schedule an Eye Exam Today

Researchers continue to explore ways to combat vision loss, and innovations like bioengineering are showing promising results. However, the future of your eye health depends mostly on how well you take care of it now. To schedule an eye exam, call Kirkwood Eye Center in Southlake, TX, today at (817) 416-2010.